Abstract Hypertensive syndrome in pregnancy complicates up to 15% of pregnancies, and preeclampsia (PE) occurs in about 3–10% of pregnant women. Inadequate prenatal care is associated with higher mortality from PE, possibly due to reduced monitoring, detection, and missed opportunities for early intervention. The imperative of the clinician’s work is to monitor the symptoms and clinical signs of PE, and stratification of patients in relation to the risk of PE is essential. PE represents a multisystem inflammatory response, and the consequences can be expected in all organs. The question of the effect of PE on long-term maternal health is raised. The aim of the paper is to present the effect of PE on the patient’s health through the prism of low-income countries.

Abstract Objectives To investigate the influence of maternal level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) one by one or in combination on incidence of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Methods The study included pregnant women (n=107) hospitalized in the period from July 1, 2020 to October 10, 2021 at the Department of Pathology of Pregnancy of the University Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinical Center Sarajevo (UCCS) (Bosnia and Herzegovina), due to hypertensive disorder in pregnancy without symptoms of impaired thyroid function. In all patients fulfilling inclusion criteria TSH, FT3, and FT4 using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA, Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) were checked. There were two groups of patients: one with gestational hypertension (G1) and the other with preeclampsia (G2). The programs SPSS for Windows 25.0, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA and Microsoft Excel 11, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA were used for statistical analysis using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test because the distribution of the data was not normal. The result was considered statistically significant if p<0.05. Results Gestational age at delivery (G2 36.86 ± 3.79 vs. G1 38.94 ± 2.15; p=0.002) and birth weight (G2 2,841.36 ± 1,006.39 vs. G2 3,290.73 ± 745.6; p=0,032) were significantly different between the investigated groups. The difference between the peak systolic (p=0.002), peak diastolic blood pressure (p=0.007), TSH (p=0.044), and FT3 (p=0.045) were statistically significant. Impaired thyroid function was observed more often in G2 than in G1. Conclusions Thyroid function was more often affected adversely in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia than with gestational hypertension. Based on the results of our study it might be prudent to check thyroid hormones in all asymptomatic pregnancies with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. These findings need confirmation in larger better designed prospective studies.

The aim of our manuscript is to report of a successful perinatal outcome after treatment of acute polyhydramnios caused by duodenal atresia. A 34-year-old G3P1 was referred due to polyhydramnios in the 30th week of pregnancy. Ultrasound revealed polyhydramnios, amniotic fluid index (AFI) 28, and a double bubble sign that indicated duodenal atresia and dilatated oesophagus. In the 32nd week of gestation, the volume of amniotic fluid increases, AFI 35, along with symptoms of dyspnea and abdominal pain. Due to the clinical picture and the early gestational age, it was decided to perform an amnioreduction. In the 36th week of gestation cesarean section was performed. The baby was taken for exploratory laparotomy and found to have a simultaneous complete duodenal atresia and annular pancreas with associated dilated the first portion of the duodenum and the stomach. A side-to-side duodenoduodenostomy via single-layer hand-sewn anastomosis was performed over a transanastamotic feeding tube (TAFT). The postoperative course was uneventful. Amnioreduction is useful and safe in the treatment of acute polyhydramnios caused by duodenal atresia and thus has a significant role in prolonging gestation until fetal maturity.

Introduction. Lean principles have been successfully adapted to the healthcare environment, enabling hospitals and clinics to streamline their operations and focus on value as perceived by their patients. Many healthcare facilities have implemented lean principles to improve their efficiency. The subject of this paper is the lean concept, the essence of which is implementation of methods that affect the efficiency and quality of providing health services. Our aim was to point out the necessity of applying modern concepts in healthcare. Material and Methods. The primary sources of data were obtained through research on the opinions and possibility of applying the lean concept in hospitals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We presented the results on the effectiveness of the lean concept in hospitals that apply it. Results. After implementation of the lean concept in an Italian hospital, the results showed a positive impact on the waiting time for admission, faster discharge, and faster flow of information. The results of the research in Bosnia and Herzegovina showed that there were positive attitudes towards the effects that would be achieved by implementing the lean concept. Conclusion. The implementation of the lean concept would reduce medical waste, which would positively affect the quality of health care services.

Background: The etiology of preeclampsia has still not been completely explained. Early identification of women with the risk of developing preeclampsia is a key goal of antenatal care. Objective: To investigate risk factors for preeclampsia from the history, laboratory and ultrasound findings (Doppler). Methods: Pregnant women with normal Doppler sonography in the second trimester of pregnancy were classified as a control group, while pregnant women with impaired Doppler in the second trimester were considered as the investigated group with presumably increased risk for preeclampsia. A total number of 80 patients was included in the study (40 patients in each group). Results: The difference of urea, uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum of the control and investigated group was statistically significant, while the differences were not statistically significant for creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The presence of a notch sign during assessment of blood flow in uterine arteries in subjects in the investigated group with the diagnosis of preeclampsia had the specificity of 47.62%, and sensitivity of 88.89%. The positive predictive value of a notch sign during assessment of blood flow in uterine arteries as a marker for diagnosis of preeclampsia in the second trimester of pregnancy was 90.91%, and its negative. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure are dependent variables which are predicting preeclampsia, whilst a notch sign in uterine arteries was designated as an independent variable predicting preeclampsia. Conclusion: From the laboratory tests the following parameters were considered as the risk factors for preeclampsia: increasing levels of urea, uric acid, and LDH. Notch sign was considered to be a very strong predictor of preeclampsia, especially if present bilaterally. Doppler sonography in the second trimester of pregnancy is a good predictor for early diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of the Kurjak antenatal neurodevelopmental test (KANET) in multicentric studies. Materials and methods: In KANET, normal, borderline, and abnormal fetuses postnatal development was followed. The Chi-square was considered significant if p < 0.05 was used in the statistical analysis. Specificity, sensitivity, prevalence, positive and negative predictive value, false-positive, and false-negative results were calculated. Results: In 3,709 singleton fetuses, KANET was assessed. Postnatal follow-up was available for 1,556 of 1,573 (42.4%) infants. For 2,136, the data were not available. Interrater reliability (κ coefficient) for low-risk fetuses was between 0.64 and 0.65 (agreement 94.2–97.3%), for high-risk fetuses was between 0.44 and 0.53 (agreement 70.5–78.9%), respectively. Borderline KANET was found in 153 (9.7%), abnormal in 52 (3.3%), both more prevalent in high-risk pregnancies ( χ 2 = 457.36; df = 2; p < 0.01). Abnormal KANET was connected with severe postnatal developmental delay ( χ 2 = 315.28; df = 6; p < 0.01). In 47 out of 1,102 children aged 2 years and more, abnormal KANET was found, among them in one with CP. In 1 out of 1,055 children with normal KANET, severe developmental delay was found. The KANET has low sensitivity for detection of developmental delay and CP. The KANET specificity is high for all tested variables, positive predictive value and the false-positive rate are high, the negative predictive value is high (99.77–99.95%), and the false-negative rate is low (0.23–0.05%). Conclusion: With normal KANET, there is a high probability of normal infant development. If the KANET score is borderline or abnormal in high-risk pregnancies, postnatal development may appear abnormal.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this article was to present a case of premature fetal closure of the ductus arteriosus (DA) of unknown cause. Case presentation A 32-year-old pregnant woman came for the regular prenatal visit at 36 + 1 weeks of gestation (WG) at which oligohydramnios and premature closure of DA were revealed. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was excluded by the history, although the patient had the symptoms of common cold 2 weeks before the check-up taking more than 1,000 mL of strong chamomile tea daily till the day before the prenatal visit. The patient was hospitalized at 36 + 1 weeks of gestation due to premature closure of DA and oligohydramnios (amniotic fluid index = 4.5/3), which was the indication to deliver the baby by cesarean section at 36 + 6 WG (birth weight was 2,830 g, birth length 49 cm and head circumference 34 cm, Apgar score at 1 and 5 min were 9/9). Postnatal course was uneventful, and postnatal echocardiography at 12 h of life revealed functionally closed DA and mild dysfunction of the right ventricle, which completely resolved after 7 days. The mother and the baby were discharged home healthy, and were doing well 3 months after delivery. Conclusions Although the cause of premature closure of DA in most of the cases will remain undetected, thorough history sometimes with unexpected events should be taken under the consideration as possible causative factor for premature DA closure, as was drinking of high quantities of chamomile tea in our case.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this prospective study was to correlate the Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine arteries with the Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET), to investigate the effect of uterine artery flow assessed by the Doppler on fetal behavior. Methods A population of 80 pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy was included for uterine artery Doppler (UAD) assessment. The investigation group consisted of 40 women with abnormal UAD, while the control group consisted of 40 women with normal UAD. The inclusion criteria for the investigated group were: gestation above 20 weeks, and an abnormal finding of Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine arteries. All patients underwent a KANET test and were followed up to the end of their pregnancy. Results There was a statistically significant difference in the average score of KANET tests between the two groups (9.20±3.32 vs. 13.55±2.21; p=0.001). In the first group, an abnormal flow on the side of the placenta affected the score of the KANET test (B=11.948; p=0.005), while abnormal flow on the opposite side did not affect the score of the KANET test (p>0.05). Physiological flow had no effect on the KANET test in the control group (p>0.05). Conclusions Abnormal flow affects the value of the KANET score, and can be used as one of the parameters in evaluation of probable fetal neurodevelopmental disorders.